Briefs on the struggle of the south Korean people

=Anti-US and anti-war struggle

Sep.16~Oct.4- The National Association of University Newspaper Journalists conducted a survey of students of 11 universities including Gangreung National University, Yongnam and Hannam Universities as regards the lapse of 60 years since the US military occupation of south Korea. Overwhelming majority of respondents strongly demanded withdrawal of the USFK. 73.4 percent of the respondents said that the US troops’ occupation of south Korea is aimed at the US domination over and intervention in south Korea’s internal affairs.

Sep.27- The People for Peace and Reunification held the 50^th meeting for peace and disarmament in front of the Ministry of Defense. It demanded withdrawal of pro-US act on military reform.

Sep.28- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification, the People for Peace and Reunification called a news conference in front of the Ministry of Defense and criticized the US and south Korean authorities’ move of threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Oct.2- The 397^th candlelight vigil was held at an elementary school in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, with attendance of resident of Pyeongtaek, the Student Committee of the Democratic Labor Party and 11 other civic organizations. 

Oct.8- A Seoul regional meeting for the Implementation of the joint statement of the six-party talks and the withdrawal of the US troops from south Korea was held with participation of members of the Seoul Reunification Solidarity, the Seoul People’s Solidarity and students. Prior to the meeting, youth and students under the Seoul Area Federation of University Student Councils and the June 15 Youth and Students Solidarity staged a grand Seoul regional march for the withdrawal of the US troops. The meeting was also held in Daegu, Gwangju, Pyeongtaek and other parts of south Korea.

- The Preparatory Committee of the Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration released a statement denouncing the US behavior of impairing the spirit of the joint statement agreed upon at the fourth round of the six-party talks.

Oct.9- The 3^rd conference of the 3^rd term of the Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration was held at Dongook University in Seoul.

Oct.10- Kwon Young-ghil, lawmaker of the Democratic Labor Party, disclosed the fact that the United States and south Korean authorities agreed to revise and supplement the “OPLAN 5027.”

- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification issued a statement titled “US, immediately withdraw the war plan against north Korea.”

- The People for Peace and Reunification called a news conference in front of the Ministry of Defense to denounce the US and south Korean warmongers’ aggressive war ambition.

Oct.11- Roh Hoi-chan, lawmaker of the Democratic Labor Party, demanded total revision of the unequal SOFA.

- The Reunification Solidarity and the National People’s Solidarity for National Independence, Democracy and People’s Right to Live held a news conference in front of US Yongsan garrison and demanded withdrawal of the US war plan.   

=Struggle for achieving democracy and vital rights

Oct.3- The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions issued a statement in denunciation of the security authorities’ crackdown on the workers who are struggling for their vital rights.

Oct.7- The People’s Solidarity for Abolition of the National Security Law released statement titled “Let Professor Kang Jeong-gu speak” denouncing the conservative forces took the issue of the professor’s treatise. 

- The south Korean Federation of University Student Councils released a statement to denounce the security authorities for frantic crackdown on the students’ movement, issuing a warrant of arrest for Song Hyo-won, chairperson of the 13^th-term Hanchongnyeon, in connection with the struggle to remove the statue of MacArthur in Incheon.

Oct.8- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration made public a statement titled “Let us frustrate challenge of the conservative forces with the concerted efforts of the progressive forces.” 

Oct.10- The All-People Committee for Proper Settlement of the Past History, the People’s Solidarity for Inheriting the Spirit of the Movement for Democracy and other civic organizations held a news conference in front of the National Assembly at which they demanded amendment to the law on the past history.

- The People’s Solidarity for Abolition of the National Security Law and the Joint Measure Committee for Checking the Jurisdiction of Prof. Kang Jeong-gu and Academic Freedom held a joint news conference in front of the Police Office in Seoul.

Oct.11- 57 civic organizations including permanent representative Jong Jae-don of the National Alliance of Peasants and Seo Jong-wi, head of the Central Alliance for Agricultural Managers of Korea, called a news conference in front of the National Assembly and strongly censured unintentional handling of the rice negotiation.